The following are live, paraphrased notes from the Monday afternoon media availability:
Mike Elko
- I'd like to start by recognizing a top-10 volleyball game happening on Wednesday night. We will be watching. Please get out to Reed.
- I want to recognize the 1975 team. This is a throwback jersey game for us. Finished as high as No. 2 that year. They produced 10 NFL Draft picks, the most in A&M history.
- The Players of the Game this week: DL was Cashius Howell. Offensive POTW was Rueben Owens II. Defensive POTW goes to Daymion Sanford. Special teams POTW was KC Concepcion.
- Our drive efficiency was 10 of 12. Offensively, the game changes a little bit because we didn't convert the fourth and 1, and we threw the interception. Those were huge killers for us. We finished drives in the second half. It was a good night.
- We have an enormous challenge in Florida. Far and away, the most challenging team we will face. They have played in two top-10 road environments. They are coming off a top-10 win. We are excited to get under the lights of Kyle Field.
- When you get in a game, you have a feel for what success will potentially look like. Sometimes, it starts going a certain way, and you have to adjust.
- DJ Lagway is a kid we have known and tried hard to get here. Media narratives are so funny. I think he is playing so much better. He is a really talented kid.
- Our ability to run the ball helps in the red zone. You emphasize things, and you get some and don’t get some. But we emphasize it so much. We try to focus on the area of the field, and it has been good to us so far.
- That was not an easy situation for Marcel Reed last year at Florida. That was a big win. That is not an easy place to play. As a first-time starter, playing and winning the way we did brought confidence. None of that helps us this year.
- Florida is really physical. They have talented pieces on the outside.
- My involvement with the defense has not helped as much as you guys give credit for. Jay Bateman and the staff have done a phenomenal job.
- I love Reed, but he is not a 200-plus-pound quarterback, so that takes the quarterback sneak out of the equation. Nate Boerkircher getting carries caused some misdirection.
- The challenge I gave to the offensive line is the plays to get rids of the plays that make us go backwards. That's why we didn't have an Offensive Lineman of the Week. Let’s get rid of those two plays we had that make you pull your hair out.
- Some kids decide to come back for that last year of school and go into coast mode. Howell was the exact opposite. He has changed his body. He is practicing and preparing better. You can say to the other guys, and say, “Hey, look at him.”
- Reed would tell you that, at times last year, he would be too quick to run. He does not run a ton now. He is doing a lot of his work from the pocket. He is starting cleaner. He still gets a little anxious and is working on connecting on the deep balls.
- Sanford has stepped up in the last two weeks. Our two players of the week weren't necessarily starters on Day 1.
- For Taurean York to near 200 tackles, I hope I am around to see him get to 300, to be honest with you. He is doing a really good job with what we are asking.
- They got four of five offensive line starters back from last year. Their left tackle is one of, if not the best, in the conference.
- Our ability to create negative plays on first and second down puts you behind the sticks. We have been in advantageous situations on third down.
- They are becoming more and more confident. It's an empowering feeling to know you have control over the outcome of things. We are trying to instill that they control this. They are starting to believe that's real. That's what separates really good teams from average ones.
- When you have confidence in the corners in man-to-man coverage... And let's not forget about Tyreek Chappell at the nickel. That helps with what you can dial up and create.
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